Judgement day looms for Ferrari

Could Alonso be stripped of his German Grand Prix win? © Getty Images

Ferrari?s team-orders hearing in front of the FIA?s World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) is looming and opinions on what the punishment should be vary from championship disqualification to a mere slap on the wrist. The likelihood is that it?ll be something in between. In his latest column, the Daily Telegraph?s Tom Cary looks into the absurdity of the team orders rule and the punishment that should be handed down for breaking it.

?With Alonso trailing Lewis Hamilton by 41 points after failing to score in Spa last time out, perhaps the powers-that-be would prefer not to dock him a further 25 points and, in all likelihood, remove him from the championship race. A deduction of the team points accrued in Germany and a suspended ban is considered more likely.?

Richard Williams of the Guardian said the only sensible thing to do would be to abolish the unworkable team orders rule that flew in the face of over 100 years of motorsport history.

"Proceedings could be dominated by Formula One's usual political machinations, or by an outbreak of common sense. The latter would see Mosley's unworkable law being erased as swiftly as it was so foolishly imposed."

Meanwhile, 1996 champion Damon Hill has told the Daily Telegraph that he thought the WMSC would be unwise to strip Alonso of his points entirely.

"Flexing their muscles because they can is not necessarily wise. I don't think a punishment that big would fit this particular crime."

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/09/judgement_day_looms_for_ferrar.php

Tony Maggs Mike Magill Umberto Maglioli